These three manufacturers all have recognized expertise, but their approaches differ significantly. Robot architecture, industrial positioning, sector specialization, precision, speed, and operating environment: each player addresses specific needs.

So, how do you choose between ABB, Epson, and Stäubli depending on your production requirements? Robot Magazine offers a detailed analysis to help guide industrial decision-making.

Three leaders, three industrial philosophies

Before getting into the technical comparison, it is essential to understand the positioning of each manufacturer.

ABB: versatility and industrial power

Choosing an industrial robot
means making a strategic decision,
not just a technical one.

Epson: precision and speed for electronics and assembly

Epson has long been recognized for its SCARA robots and micro-assembly solutions, positioning itself as a key player in high-precision industrial automation. The company specializes in applications where very high precision, extremely fast cycle times, and maximum compactness are critical to performance.

This expertise translates into a strong presence across sectors such as electronics, component manufacturing, small-part assembly, and high-speed automated production lines, where efficiency, repeatability, and space optimization are essential.

Stäubli: high precision and critical environments

Stäubli takes a more niche yet highly demanding position within the robotics landscape. Its robots are renowned for their exceptional precision, long-term reliability, and ability to operate in sensitive environments where strict standards are required.

This level of performance makes them particularly well-suited for industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical applications, food processing, as well as clean or sterile environments and micromechanics, where accuracy, cleanliness, and consistency are critical.

Technical comparison: performance, precision, flexibility

1. Precision and repeatability

• Stäubli clearly stands out in this area. Its robots provide extremely fine repeatability, making them well suited for critical environments and high-precision applications.
• Epson also excels, especially with SCARA robots, where precision is essential for fast, repetitive operations.
• ABB offers high precision as well, but it is more focused on versatile industrial applications than on extreme micro-precision.

Verdict: Stäubli > Epson > ABB for very high-precision applications.

2. Execution speed

• Epson leads in short cycle times and high-speed production. Its SCARA robots are designed for rapid tasks with highly optimized cycle times.
• ABB delivers strong performance, but with a balance between speed and robustness.
• Stäubli prioritizes precision and stability over pure speed.

Verdict: Epson > ABB > Stäubli for very high-speed production lines.

3. Payload and power

• ABB offers a very broad range, including robots capable of handling heavy loads in demanding industrial environments.
• Stäubli covers intermediate payloads with high precision.
• Epson mainly focuses on light payloads.

Verdict: ABB > Stäubli > Epson for heavy-duty applications.

4. Operating environment

• Stäubli is the leader for clean, sterile, or sensitive environments such as cleanrooms, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.
• ABB is designed for standard to complex industrial environments.
• Epson is suitable for clean environments, but not as demanding as those typically targeted by Stäubli.

Verdict: Stäubli > Epson > ABB for critical environments.

5. Flexibility and integration

• ABB stands out for its ability to integrate complex systems, particularly through advanced software, simulation solutions, and connected architectures.
• Stäubli offers excellent integration within specialized systems.
• Epson focuses on simple, fast-to-deploy solutions, but these are less scalable in complex architectures.

Verdict: ABB > Stäubli > Epson for complex industrial systems.

Robotics is evolving toward
smarter, more adaptive
systems.

Choosing according to your type of production

Heavy production and full-scale industrial automation

If your production involves:

• Heavy handling
• Welding
• Palletizing
• Complex industrial lines

ABB is the natural choice.

Its versatility, robustness, and software ecosystem make it well suited for large-scale installations.

Fast assembly and electronics production

If you work in:

• Electronics
• Component assembly
• Very high-speed production lines

Epson is particularly suitable.

Its SCARA robots provide the speed and precision needed for short-cycle operations.

Critical production and sensitive environments

If your activity concerns:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical industries
• Food processing
• Clean environments

Stäubli is often the obvious choice.

Its precision and compliance with strict standards make it a benchmark player.

Cost, maintenance, and ROI

• The choice does not depend on technical performance alone. Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a key factor.
• ABB often involves a higher initial investment, but offers strong durability and scalability.
• Epson provides more accessible solutions, with fast ROI on high-speed lines.
• Stäubli positions itself in markets where quality matters more than cost, with return on investment driven by reliability and compliance.

2026 trends: toward a convergence of technologies

The differences between these players remain clear, but certain trends are bringing their approaches closer together:

• Growing integration of AI to improve flexibility
• Development of collaborative solutions
• Advancements in machine vision
• Use of digital twins for simulation
• Convergence between industrial robotics and intelligent robotics

Robots are becoming less rigid, more adaptive, and better able to handle increasing variability.

A strategic choice, not just a technical one

Choosing between ABB, Epson, and Stäubli is not about selecting “the best robot,” but identifying the one that best matches your industrial reality.

• ABB for power, versatility, and complex environments
• Epson for speed, precision, and fast assembly
• Stäubli for extreme reliability and critical environments

At a time when automation is becoming a strategic lever, the robot is no longer just a tool, but a central element of the production system.

The right choice is the one that fits into your value chain, your environment, and your long-term industrial vision.

FAQ – Choosing Between ABB, Epson, and Stäubli

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French deeptech company Eclore Actuators announces a €3 million Seed funding round to accelerate its industrial and commercial development. Specializing in polymer-based protection and actuation solutions for industrial robotics, defense, and space applications, the company now aims to strengthen its international presence, with a strategic focus on the Japanese premium robotics market, particularly SCARA robots.

This round brings together leading public and private investors, including Bpifrance, UI Investissement, Sodero, Pays de la Loire Participations, as well as specialized business angels.

A Differentiating Technology: Polymer Folding Applied to Robotics

Founded in 2019, Eclore Actuators relies on patented expertise in polymer folding. This know-how enables the design of components that are:

• Lighter

• More compact

• More durable

• PFAS-free

• Suitable for harsh industrial environments

In industrial robotics, especially SCARA robots (widely used in electronic assembly), constraints are multiple: dust, splashes, high-pressure washing, repeated mechanical stress, FDA-compliant environments, or ISO 3 cleanrooms.

Eclore Actuators’ solutions enable:

• More than 5× longer lifespan for protective components

• Significant reduction in machine downtime

• ROI in approximately 4 months

• Improved overall reliability of robotic cells

Beyond passive protections, the company also develops active components such as actuators, ejectors, and polymer grippers.

Already Compatible with Global Robotics Leaders

Eclore Actuators’ kits are today compatible with 19 models from the main global manufacturers, including:

• Fanuc

• Epson

• KUKA

• ABB

• Yaskawa

• Omron

• Yamaha

This compatibility facilitates both retrofit projects and new integrations, allowing industrial customers to enhance the performance and durability of their existing robots without modifying their core architecture.

Simultaneously, the company also addresses defense and space markets, where weight reduction, resistance to extreme environments, and reliability are strategic priorities.

A New Factory in Nantes to Industrialize at Scale

As part of its growth, Eclore Actuators has moved into a new factory in Nantes.

Objectives:

• Structure the industrial setup

• Increase production capacity

• Ensure quality control

• Accelerate R&D on passive and active polymer components

A key differentiator: the company designs and assembles its own production and R&D machines in-house. This vertical integration, combined with its patented process, strengthens its competitive advantage in high-value technical components.

Japan: A Strategic Market for Premium Robotics

Eclore Actuators has also opened a local office in Japan, considered a priority market.

Why Japan?

• High concentration of industrial robot manufacturers

• High demands for reliability and performance

• Global leadership in SCARA robots and assembly applications

Following its participation in IREX 2025 in Tokyo one of the world’s largest robotics trade shows the company has engaged in discussions with several major players for industrial and commercial partnerships.

Establishing itself in the Japanese market is a strong signal of technological credibility for a European industrial deeptech company.

A Clear Ambition: Become a Reference Player in Polymer Components for Robotics

For Pierre Gautier-Le Boulch, founder and CEO of Eclore Actuators, this funding round marks a structuring milestone. The ambition is to become a reference player in high-performance polymer components for:

• Industrial robotics

• Next-generation robotic systems

• Defense

• Space

In a context of reindustrialization, reduced machine downtime, and optimization of total cost of ownership (TCO), peripheral components become a strategic lever for performance.

Why This Funding Is Strategic for the European Robotics Ecosystem

Beyond financing, this operation illustrates several key trends:

• The rise of French industrial deeptech companies

• The growing importance of critical components in the robotics value chain

• The need for a fast international strategy to remain competitive against Asian and American players

By focusing on material innovation, industrial mastery, and international expansion, Eclore Actuators positions itself as an industrial scale-up.

FAQ – Eclore Actuators and Its Solutions for Industrial Robotics

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